Lady&#39;s purse or pocketbook



July 26, 1949. M. A. MOORE LADYS PURSE OR POCKETBOOK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. 17, 194e K m F July 26, 1949. MfA, MQQRE 2.477,388

LADYS PURSE 0R xOCKETBOoK Filed Sept. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. .3.

Patented July 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE l 2,477,388 Y LApYs PURSE oa rocxafrnoox Mimi-ea A. Moore, washington, D. c. Application September 17, 1946, Serial No. 697,4*81 2 claims. (ci. 15e- 34) 1 This invention is a womans handbag provided with a specialized series of compartments and pockets, for receiving and holding in an orderly manner and inreadily accessible positions, the many miscellaneous: articles usually carried by a woman in her handbag.

Among the many articles carried by women in their handbags are the following:

Coins' Cigarette cases Car tokens Cigarette lighters Paper money Fountain pens Face powder compacts Address books Lipstick Memo pads Rouge Check books Stamps Comb `Keys Eyebrow pencil Cigarettes Pencils Several types of handbags provided with a plurality of compartments for holding many of the above articles are on the market today. However, the number of pockets is usually insuilicientl and there is usually a disorderly mixture of articles in the bottom of the bag in which it is difficult for the user to nd what she wants and which mixture creates an unsightly bulge in the bottom of the bag.

The object of the present invention is to provide. a handbag containing an improved and specialized series of pockets and compartments on facing walls or facing partitions of the bag, which pockets and compartments are A`at spaced intervals both laterally and vertically on such facing Walls, in staggered relationship, so that the pockets and compartments on one .wall t into or nest into the spaces between the compartments and pockets on the opposite wall, whereby a maximum number of pockets and compartments may be provided without objectionable bulging, due to this intertting arrangement.

The bag is relatively thin, and it vis animportant object of the invention to provide a thin handbag, yet which will carry a large number of articles in orderly manner without bulging.

Another important advantage achieved is this:

`The pockets have a space above them for receiving the pocket on the opposite wall. When a pocket on one wall is in a space on the opposite wall, as it would be when the bag is closed, that pocket will be directly above the pocket on the opposite wall and will serve to a substantial extent as a closure for such opposite pocket, so that the article therein will not readily drop out.

`Another feature of the invention is to provide 2 a handbag with bellows or folded-bottom and bellows or folded sides, wherein two adjacent edges of one of the vertical bellows sides are normally held together by a detachable fastening device, such as a slide fastenenwhereby when' the fastener is closed, the side bellows is closed and the corresponding bellows section in the bottom is contracted; when the fastener is released to allow the side section to expand or spread, the corresponding bottom section will expand or spread, thereby increasing the size of the bag and 'providing a substantial additional carrying capacity whenever that is desired.

The invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in more detail, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the handbag of.

this invention, partly open.

Fig. 2 is a cross section, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, but with the bag closed.

Fig. 3 `is a perspective view of the bag, opened I wide.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view to show the staggered pocket arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a handbag showing a simplified construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing an expansible compartment.

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross-section to show detailsof the expansible compartment.

the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal cross-section, taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing a compartment in expanded position.

Referring now to lthese drawings, the outside portion of the bag is conventional, comprising outside walls 2, frame members t pivoted together and a usual releasable catch 6. The bag includes a bellows bottom 8 and a pair of inner walls or partitions I0 and l2, conveniently secured to the bottom at Il.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, the facing walls of partitions l0 and I2 are provided with a plurality of pockets or compartments indicated generally at I6 which are spaced is in closed position, as shown in Iilg. 2, lthe walls Iand I2 4would be spaced apart a distance approximately an amount equal to the thickness of the pockets, due to their internesting or interntting arrangement. Therefore, the center compartinent, between the walls I and I2 is relatively thin, reducing the bulk of the bag. It will be evident that an article in a lower pocket II, Figs. 2 or 4, would be more or less held in its pocket by the presence directly above it of another pocket carried by the opposite wall and so a. partial closure of the several pockets is achieved.

As mentioned;4 the pocket compartments I8 could be of flexible material, such as\ cloth or leather, or of stiffened material, such as`-plastic,

cloth stiened with plastic, Celluloid or similar synthetic materials. f

' On the upper outside or inside portion of one of the walls III or I2, one or more coin or token holders I8 is provided, preferably of the type wherein the coins or tokens are held in diagonal overlapping relation, for quick and ready access,

particularly in getting out car. bus, and subway fares. Many types of such coin and token holders are known and any convenient style could be used.

Both outside surfaces of walls I Il and' I2 are preferably provided with any desired number of pockets. particularly for holding relatively thin. nat articles, such as check books,.memo pads, wallets for dat paper money and the like. Such types of pockets are commonly used and for convenience are not illustrated on the drawings.

'I'he handbag is also provided with inner wallsv l 20, the inner surfaces ofl which are preferably covered with a plurality of relatively flat pockets,- as shown at 22, Fig. 2.

However, one or both of the outer walls of III and I2, may if desired be provided with laterally and vertically spaced pockets of stiil'ened ma terial in staggered arrangement, as in Fig. 4; and the inwardly facing walls of walls 2|! could be provided with staggered pockets, intertting with oDDOSite pockets; as in Fig. 4, or with iiat pockets, as desired.

Fig. 5 shows a simpliiied construction, where the handbag consists essentially of two walls I0' and I 2 corresponding to the walls I'II andi I2 of Fig. 4, provided with laterally and vertically spaced Ipockets I6' corresponding to pockets Il of Figmi. Pockets I6' are spaced laterally and vertically and are in staggered relation so as to interfit with each other as described in connection with the other figures, particularly Fig. 4.

The arrangement for increasing the carrying capacity of the bag, when desirable or necessary, will now be described, reference being made particularly to Figs. 2-6, and 8. This is accomplished essentially by providing a bellows fold in the bag bottom, which is straddled by and held in closed or folded position by an end bellows action, the end bellows being held in closed position by detachably securing together the edges which straddle the bottom section, thereby holding the bottom fold in the folded or contracted position. For increased carrying capacity, the straddling edges are released, allowing them to separate and expand, and this allows the bottom fold to flatten out and expand, thereby enlarging the bag. This arrangement is optional, and may or may not be used, as desired.

The above-described expandible compartment is shown in association with the compartment to similarly merges into `the expansible compartment the right of wall I2, Figs. 2 and 3. Suchcompartment has a bottom fold formed of panels 3l and II, joining along ridge 32. Panel 2l merges into a fiat bottom panel III', and panel II merges into a flat bottom panel ll', connected to the respective bordering vertical i tom fold is held in folded position by an end bellows section shown generally at l! and comprising vertical panels 35 and 38 joining at ridge 31. These panels 35 and 36 have their inner, bottom edges folded inwardly and upwardlyto form an inverted V gusset 28, the upper edge 3l l of which fits over ridge 32 -straddles 30 and 3l, and may so that the gusset be stitched thereto at Il.

Panel 35 merges into end wan as', stitched at I0 to bottom I0' and at A4I to wall 20. Panel 3l end wall 36', stitched at 4l to bottom 2|", and at 42 to wall I2. l

Each of the two adjacent edges M of folded member 34 is provided with slide fastener hooks 4I, cooperating with the usual slider 48 of the well known slide fastener fastener is closed, as in Figs. 2, 3, and 6, bottom bellows 30, 3| and end bellows 3l are both folded or contracted. To enlarge the bag, the slider of the zipper is moved down to disengage the edges u, 44 of. the end bellows, and the bottomand end 4bellows expand and flatten out as in Fig. if), enlarging that portion of the bag by. the combined widths of 30 and 3|. The opposite end of is similarly fitted. The opposite or left hand side of the bag, Fig. 3, could be of course be provided with such an expansible compartment if desired. 'I'he expansible feature is, however, entirely optional and could be omitted entirely. The entire expansible arrangement could also be reversed, by putting the slide fastener on Va bottom bellows section, ar-I some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown, but may be carried out in other ways; the size, number and arrangement of the several compartments or pockets may be varied widely in accordance with the number and size of the various articles the bag is designed to carry. 'The particular expansible compartment construction could be carried out in other ways.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ladys handbag, comprising a pair of rigid frame members pivoted together to. swing on a horizontal axis, latch means at the top of said frame members for latching them together, ilexible outer walls secured to said frame members. a pair of vertical inner walls operatively connected to -said frame members to move therewith, toward and away from each other, said inner walls, on the surfaces facing each other, being provided with upwardly opening pockets positioned atvarious levels, with the pockets onA one wall in staggered relation with the pockets on the opposite wall', so that when 4therigid frame members are latched together in abutting relation, said pockets on the two walls intert and overlap, with certain pockets on the upper level of one wall directly over other pockets at a lower level on the opposite wall and aiding in closing said lower level pockets, a second pair of inner walls, vertically positioned between said flexible outer walls and said rst mentioned pair of inner walls, and pockets at diiferent levels carried by the inner faces of said second set of vertical walls.

walls I2 and 20. 'This bottype. When the slide 2; A ladys handbag, comprising a pair of rigid frame members pivoted together to swing on a horizontal axis, latch means at the top of said frame members for latching them together, flexible outer walls secured to said frame members, a pair of vertical inner walls operatively connected to said frame members to move therewith, toward and away from each other, said inner walls, on the surfaces facing each other, being provided with upwardly opening pockets positioned at various levels, with `the pockets on one wall inA staggered relation with the pockets on the opposite wall, so that when the rigid frame members are latched together in abutting relation, said pockets on the two walls intert and overlap, with certain pockets on the upper level of one wall directly over other pockets at a lower level on the opposite wall and aiding in closing said lower level pockets, a second pair of inner walls, vertically positioned between said flexible outer Walls and said first mentioned pair of inner walls, pockets at different levels carried by the inner faces of said second set of vertical walls, an expansible bellows connection between said rst and second pair of inner walls, and slide fastener means for holding said bellows connection in contracted position.

MILDRED A. MOORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the le of this patent: 

